Weather: The weather has been very mixed for winter cereal planting so far, but next week looks like it could be drier. Heavy rain Thursday will be followed by a cloudy week. Time is ticking on to get winter barley drilled and it should be a priority. It’s an ideal time to be planting winter wheat and this year with usually late-harvested crops like beans, maize and many potato crops already out it’s great to get wheat into these first slots.

Seed rate: As time moves on seed rate should increase with an increase in the target plant count and a decrease in establishment rate. Winter barley from the third week of October should have a target plant count of 300 plants/m2 and an estimated establishment of 80%. The plant count increases by 10 for the last week of October and establishment moves to 75% based on Teagasc figures. You will know the conditions at sowing and a good start is half the battle, but the weather after planting will determine establishment as well and this will be riskier as time moves on. So, if you have a thousand grain weight of 53 and are planting next week at 300 plants/m2 and expect an establishment rate of 80% then your seed rate would be 199kg/ha, or 12.7st/ac. For wheat, you’re looking at a target plant count of 270 plants/m2 in the third week of October and an establishment rate of 80%, while in the last week of October the target plant count is 280 plants/2 and the estimated establishment rate is 80%. For oats, the target plant count is 320 plants/m2 at an establishment rate of 80% and in the last week of October 330 plants/m2 at an establishment rate of 80%.

Virus: Those with winter barley varieties that are not tolerant to barley yellow dwarf virus should spray an aphicide at the two to three-leaf stage where possible. Conditions are mild enough still and so you would think are good for aphids to travel. Crops planted where there was a green bridge of volunteers may be more at risk. Tolerant varieties can also be sprayed if you think the risk is high. A spray on a tolerant variety in high-risk situations has been shown to help yield, but very slightly. It seems a bit strange to pay more for BYDV tolerant seed and then spray a crop. If you think you can get away without spraying from delayed sowing, etc, then you should as insecticides will kill beneficial insects as well. Crops sown into October and only emerging now may get away without one. Early-sown crops are at higher risk of all things – BYDV, take-all, disease and grass weeds.

Tillage Day: Don’t forget to book in your early-bird ticket to Tillage Day. This can be purchased before 28 October at a cost of €50 and includes refreshments and your dinner. Tickets can be purchased at www.ifj.ie/tillageday or by phoning 01 4199525. Tillage Day takes place in the Keadeen Hotel, Newbridge, Co Kildare, on Thursday 5 November at 9am with farmers, agronomists, market specialists and industry all talking on the day. There will also be an exhibition area where you can meet and talk to the trade.